How to Turn a Skirt Into a Crop Top in 7 Simple Steps
If you have too many skirts and not enough tops in your closet, then watch this video to learn how to turn a skirt into a crop top.
There’s nothing cooler than a crop top on hot summer days and you can pair one with a pretty skirt or a pair of jeans. Let's get started!
Tools and materials:
- Old skirt
- Fabric elastic
- Scissors and/or rotary cutter
- Ruler
- Thread
- Sewing machine
1. Disassemble your skirt
First, cut the waistband off of your skirt.
If your skirt has buttons or other adornments, remove those as well so all you have left is a plain piece of fabric.
2. Make your crop top pattern
Lay your fabric, folded widthwise, on your work surface, with the inside facing in. Measure and mark the length you want for your crop top, including a seam allowance.
Cut your fabric along your marked line. Then, pin one of the long edges so that the two layers won’t shift.
Now mark and measure a 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) strip from the leftover fabric.
Cut off that 1-inch strip.
Double check that your large piece of fabric and your strip are the same width.
3. Sew the crop top
Pin one edge of the main fabric together to keep the layers from shifting.
Pin the two layers of your fabric strip together.
Fold over and pin the open long edge.
Sew the fold in place all the way around.
Now measure and mark 4 centimeters (1.57 inches) from the edge you just sewed.
Mark a line across your fabric at the 1.57-inch mark.
Pin your fabric strip to your main fabric at that line you just marked, going all the way around your main fabric.
Sew the strip to the main fabric along both long edges, but keep a small section open so you can insert elastic.
This is how it should look, so far. The side with the strip will be the bottom of your crop top, and the other long side will be the top of your crop top.
4. Make the elastic casing
Measure and mark 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) in from the top of your crop top (the edge opposite the one you were just working on).
Make a line across your fabric at the mark you just made.
Fold in and pin the edge of the fabric to meet that line.
Sew all around that edge, at the raw edge, and again, leave a small opening to insert elastic.
5. Insert the elastic
Pull your elastic through the elastic casing you made on each side of the crop top and gather it as you need to fit your body.
Sew the two ends of elastic together and sew the openings closed.
This is how your crop top looks so far! The ruffled edge is the bottom and the plain edge is the top.
6. Make the crop top strap ties
On leftover fabric, mark and cut four 3 x 52-centimeter (1.2 x 20.5 inch) strips.
With right sides facing in, fold and pin each tie in half lengthwise. Sew the ties along the long open edge.
Turn the ties right side out using your favorite method (like a safety pin) and iron the ties flat.
7. Attach the ties
Pin the ties to the front and back of the top of your crop top at your desired width.
Hand sew the ties in place.
How to turn a skirt into a crop top
Here’s your crop top! Pretty simple and so cute. Are you excited for summer now? Please leave a comment to let me know if you tried this DIY crop top tutorial and how you liked it.
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